Nothing like a good concert weekend to make your life complete, especially when you have VIP for one band that you have been wanting to meet for over ten years, it was a Papa Roach weekend for sure.

Saturday started out cold, to be exact it was freezing in Milwaukee, but having VIP for both shows we were suppose to arrive at the venue at 3:15pm, which we did and around 3:15 or so they came out to get us for the Papa Roach VIP, which was taking place first before Seether’s VIP. I’ve been a fan of the band for over ten years, and this was the first time I’ve done VIP for Papa Roach, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able not too, as you get in early, you get the rail, you meet the band, you chat with Jacoby, what more could you ask for.

I was instructed by our fearless leader Reverend Justito, to give Jacoby a message, “tell him Stikmon requests he plays Orange Drive Palms“, so I did. Jacoby and Jerry’s reaction was what was anticipated jaw dropping, “how do you know stikmon” so I told him how I knew Justin, and he’s like “oh my gosh, the Cactus Club, I remember we played their and I found a bunch of drink tickets their like a roll of drink tickets and was like what do I do with these” and Jerry was like “oh yeah I remember that, you found them and we tried to use them”. It was a fun conversation, and Jacoby and Jerry told me to tell Justin Hi as well. I’m glad Justin told me to ask him that, as it brought back memories for them I’m sure. After the hugs, and asking him to draw a “crack head” on my cell phone which he did, and said it was the “worst crackhead he done” I said no worries, it will fade.. ha, he’s like “yeah it will fade” and laughed. The photo was taken, and good byes were said, enjoy the show.

In all honesty I could have stood their and talked to Jacoby for an hour and a half, even the band as a whole, just about anything, they are that personable. It was a fun meet and greet, I’m glad I did it. Off to the rail we went.

Chicago’s VIP for Papa Roach was a little bit more rushed, as Seether had more VIP for them then they did for Milwaukee. The VIP for Papa Roach in Chicago was up the stairs, say your hello’s and get a photo. Which was alright, it was an early show, and hugs all around Jacoby’s like “she’s back” yep, I survived Milwaukee I’m coming back for more.

Papa Roach headlined this tour with Seether, and openers Kyng and Islander.

Islander was up first in Milwaukee and I fell in love with them, they have the “Deftones” stage presence, and the lead singer gets out into the crowd, they performed a small set that got the crowd going and ready for more, with the lead singer body surfing to get things started.

In Chicago, Islander put on another great performance, with Mikey Carvajal the lead singer going out into the crowd and doing his thing. I loved both of their set’s so much I got the CD afterward and have been listening to it on repeat, any band that can cause me to buy the CD and do that, is a band I’m going to see again. Mikey the lead singer is also a member of the non-profit outreach organization known as The Whosoevers. They are a band to be reckoned with, they are heading out on tour with “Red” this summer.

Next up, was Kyng one of my favorite bands from California, they rocked the house, with songs off of their two albums, “Trampled Sun” & “Burn the Serum”, with their epic version of “Hot for Teacher” which I did manage to get on video in Chicago. Kyng had played in Milwaukee several times, but this was the first time for Eddie and the band to be up in the huge ballroom, it’s a completely different setting up there. Kyng brought it though, with Eddie doing his usual faces of awesomeness from stage. He does get the crowd involved, in more ways then one.

In Chicago, Kyng put on another good set, and their rendition of “Hot for Teacher” was caught on video.

Afterward in Milwaukee Eddie the lead singer didn’t draw on my cell phone cover and give me a selfie, he refused as in his words “you’ve got to many” lol, and “do you want a bad drawing or a good drawing” but despite dissing me there, he was only joking. He made up for in Chicago, just love him. He’s such a sweetheart and they bring it every time they perform, can’t wait to see them more this year.

Seether was up next in Milwaukee with Christmas lights in full effect around each of their mic stands, and they had a touring guitarists with them, this time. He did backup guitars, and did a little singing, wasn’t to bad actually. I’ve been a fan of Seether since they came out, and seen them many, many times. Shaun has changed over the years, but he can still belt out the hits. Chicago was no different, they did however sing “Change” by the Deftones, which sounded amazing, even Jacoby was on the side of the stage singing it. Seether did an excellent job on both of their sets. They played several new songs from their latest release “Isolate and Medicate” .

Papa Roach was up next and you never really know what to expect from Jacoby, he could leave the stage at any time. They started their set off with “Face Everything and Rise” off of their new release F.E.A.R. that just dropped today the 27th of January. The crowd just gets into Papa Roach’s set, bodies start surfing, songs are being sung, it’s a massive mosh pit and it was epic.

Chicago was no different for Papa Roach, although Jacoby and the fellows did perform a new song off of the album called “Warriors” and it was awesome. Jacoby this time, decided to leave the stage and do a little crowd surfing himself, he walked on the crowd and surfed right up in front of me, you can see by the photo I got, that if the person’s arm wasn’t in the way, he would be looking right at me.

It was hard enough for me to get that shot, let alone others.. it was a great show in Chicago, he was on point and just basically having fun, perhaps the fact that they had two days off in the city, might have helped some. They rocked both days, and both days I was crushed and slammed up against a rail with 4000 people in Milwaukee behind me, and roughly 2000 some in Chicago.. EPIC weekend. Would do it all over again, if given the chance.

Papa Roach’s new CD F.E.A.R. Face Everything and Rise, dropped today January 27th, it’s awesome, Jacoby never fails on lyrics, and always writes from the heart, he may have been through hell and back, but he’s came through it 100% real. Love this band.. can’t wait for the summer tours.

The Gallery below, contains one or two photos from Milwaukee and Chicago.